On Rowing with Pocock, Parker, Nash and Perry - row2k video

On Rowing with Pocock, Parker, Nash and Perry - row2k video

A great video with some of the legends in US Rowing history. I especially like what George Pocock says about the importance of leadership over technical knowledge with respect to coaching and the way Ted Nash describes the sport.

- Jimmy

Going Back in Time

Training has been going really well over the past few weeks.  The volume and intensity are high and the results are showing progress.  When I'm at practice or watching video on my own I try to stay focused on that, but it's nice to think about the old days as a kid when not much was on the line and enjoy some fun stuff.  Tonight, I went to go see the new Muppets movie.

Christmas season is always great for bringing back childhood memories.  I definitely have developed what I like to call an adult switch.  I realize I am an adult and feel that I can act like one when needed.  However, sometimes I like to flip the switch and watch cartoons, horse around or do stupid stuff that I could get away with as a youngster.  Shaunnah can testify, I love cartoon movies.  Shrek is awesome.  Tonight, I really wanted to see Arthur Christmas, but chose the Muppets instead.

It was great to not think about practice, upcoming erg test or selection and veg out to some old friends.  I haven't watched the Muppets in YEARS.  I'm no spring chicken and it may have been 15+ years since my last Muppet experience, but it was great.  The movie was well written and funny.  I found myself surrounded by little kids and parents and it's always interesting to hear adults laugh when kids don't.  Some of the jokes are just above them and I love that.  I remember watching Shrek for the first time with Mike Berganski and his to daughters.  They were in middle school at the time and Mike and I laughed our butt's off.  After the movie the girls said they didn't like it nearly as much as us.  Many of the jokes in that movie came from Disney movies that the girls had not seen because they were just too young.  Mike and I, on the other hand were rolling with laughter.

Christmas is always a great time to think about opening presents as a kid, or hearing your Dad drive a four wheeler across the yard on Christmas morning.  That was one of the best Christmas presents ever!  The movies that play this time of year bring me back as well.  I downloaded the entire Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack on itunes the other day.  That is my favorite Christmas movie.  I'll just turn it on and read or hang out.  I think my roomates are getting a little sick of it...

Well I hope all of you are enjoying the Holiday Season.  Take a minute from your busy lives and act like a kid again.

- Jimmy

Leading when you need to be led: Sitting bow in a pair

Bow seat of a pair is a difficult seat to row.  You have to be in perfect sync with the guy in front of you and you have to be on top of it mentally at all times.  Your responsibilities include, setting the boat, making steering calls, pulling hard and making technical calls.  The technical calls are what can get you in to a bit of trouble in the boat. 

When I’m rowing I’m constantly thinking of things to correct.  Self criticism is the best criticism in my book.  I try to hold myself to a high standard of rowing or anything else for that matter.  However, when I’m rowing in bow I’m not going to make calls to myself.  That would sound ridiculous and is a waste of energy.  “Jimmy, reach from the hips and sit up.”  My stroke seat would probably stop rowing and ask if I needed to talk to someone.  On the other hand I am responsible for making the technical calls for the entire boat and that includes stroke.

It’s a hard business making calls to someone other than you.  People can get defensive or begin to say to themselves, “why is he only making calls for me?  I know he’s not rowing perfectly.”  In order to have a solid pair relationship and create speed this needs to be avoided.

I try not to harp too much on one singular thing the stroke is doing and if I do feel something I usually try to come up with a drill that will fix it.  The drill helps him feel the difference instead of hearing me “complain.”  Another great tool is the “royal we.”  We need to hold the legs down a bit more while the bodies come over and let the boat run out.  We need to be a little more horizontal at the catch.  The thing is I see him doing it and 

I’m supposed to follow his every move so the collective is very relevant and a great tool. 

Stroke seats remember, your bow seat is not just berating your technique solely.  He is still trying to better his own stroke as well and these calls only create positive speed, so deal with it.    

On another, more defensive note, I have not had any stroke seats flip out on me.  I was discussing this point with another guy I train with who usually sits bow and stating how difficult it is to not sound like an elitist while rowing bow. 

  

Good Enough and Some Video

When I was a kid and would go over to my Dad's shop and help out there was a poem on the wall of his office.  All I ever remember were two of the lines, but they go:  "My son beware of good enough, it is not made of sterling stuff."  I don't know who the author is, but it's a great line.

Whenever I'm feeling sorry for myself during a practice and want to take a stroke off I think of this.  It helps motivate me to maximize every workout and get through the end of the day.  If you guys know my Dad then you'll know he isn't into literature.  However, he found this poem and took it to heart.  I think it helped him build a successful business.

Anyway, enough ranting.  I hope you are all enjoying the holidays.  I've actually been listening to Christmas Music which may or may not be driving my roommates crazy.  I'm looking forward to the next 2 weeks of hard training and then a break in Annapolis.

BEAT ARMY!

- Jimmy

P.S.  The video is of Ryan Fox and me doing some power work with a bungee on the boat.